The new plan, which is about half the size of the older plan, now looks very similar to Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg. Regency Centers made these changes after community residents voiced concerns over the previous plans.

​Below is the part of Downtown Crown that I feel these illustrations resemble (courtesy of Smart Urban Living).


An amendment to the site plan was recently approved by the Gaithersburg Planning Commission. On February 21st the Planning Commission will vote on the final site plan.

Yard House has had meetings with staff regarding permits, but have not yet filed for them. Once they have their permits they will be able to start with the building demo and construction.


​This morning Robert Dyer reported that Brookstone in Montgomery Mall will be closing permanently on January 30th (robertdyer.blogspot.com/2018/01/brookstone-to-close-at-westfield.html).

I worked at that Brookstone for about 6 months in the early-2000s. I remember a few of us that worked there would call Sharper Image at the end of the night and tell them that the products at Brookstone were better. Immature, I know, but I was an 18 year old college student trying to pass the time.


Regular movie theaters can have crying babies, loud teenagers, uncomfortable seats, and snack bars that charge restaurant prices for 7-11 quality products. iPic eliminates the distractions and replaces them with a comfortable recliner, a pillow and blanket combo, an adjustable table, and a call button that allows you to reach a server at any point during the movie. They take an ordinary movie experience and turn it into something you want to brag to your friends about. The Premium Plus seats also have free unlimited popcorn!

A few minutes into the movie, a server came around with complimentary popcorn. The servers seem to move around in stealth mode… I didn’t really notice them unless mine came to speak directly to me. About halfway through the movie, we ordered a seasonal dessert that consisted of two chocolate cookies with a peppermint cream filling (think whoopie pie, but much better). A great way to finish things up.


According to a Biz Journals article from a few months back (linked below), Chaps Pit Beef is nearing a deal with a potential franchisee in Rockville according to owner Bob Creager.

The popular Baltimore style bbq restaurant, with current locations on Pulaski Highway in Baltimore and Aberdeen, has already reached a deal to bring their first franchised location to Frederick in the new Westview South mixed-use development off of Buckeystown Pike near I-270 in 2019.


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